Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Dodge Neon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
When I attemped to pull out from a stoplight the vehicle wouldn't go anywhere. Almost was rearended by a tractor trailer being that I was trying to move and my foot was not on the brake to engage the brake light. ... Took a few seconds to realize it wasn't going to move and put my four ways on. This was at an intersection where the speed limit is 45. Vehicle finally engaged but was leaking trans fluid. Got it home in 1st gear and now the car is constantly engaged in drive. When started in park the car lurches forward. The first time I started it after getting it home I almost ran over the person looking under the hood. Odd thing is that there is still fluid in the trans... At add but still there and the leak has stopped. Trans is still acting like it did the day it failed though.
2000 Dodge Neon-I have had this car for 5 years and use it solely for commuting to and from work. I am a careful driver and do not abuse this vehicle. During these 5 yrs I have had the following work on this car; replaced the brakes twice within the first 2 yrs replaced the battery 3 times over 5 years replaced the transmission at 70K replaced the radiator at 70K the car performs very poorly in ice and snow. I have spun out on several major highways merely doing less than 10 MPH in snow/slush. I was told my mechanic that it is the weight distribution and poor design of my vehicle that this happens. My tires have always been maintained/replaced when tread was getting low. I recently paid $400 for a set of new Michelin harmony tires hoping that the upcoming snow and ice season May not kill me. Car had a musty/fishy odor when I used the heater during the first 2 years. This has since gone. …
Dt: was driving to work and first stopped at the red light on the outside lane the green light came on ,and the car was in first gear. When trying to place car in second gear consumer was unable to shift and felt that the vehicle did not have gears. The consumer was able to coast the vehicle off the road to the nearest turnoff lane. A police officer followed consumer as to see what was wrong. Had to have vehicle towed to a dealer, and the dealer said the crossover cable broke. No explanation as to why this happened. Consumer had this repaired and had no problems since repair. The batteries have been replaced in the consumer's vehicle. The gasket were replaced because water was getting inside the car during rainstorm. The right front motor mount cracked.
I have a 2000 Dodge Neon I bought at 32,000miles. Started over heating at 34,000mi. Only on really hot days. Now at 56,000 miles over heats all the time. Can't drive it. Found out it is a blown head gasket. Dealer estimates $2500 repair. (single mom, can't afford it) found out through research and mechanics that neons are prone to blown head gaskets between 30 to 60 thousand miles. Mechanic explained that the gaskets chemical compounds within the metals are not compatible. But they are no longer useing those gaskets and have replaced them with new ones that are compatible. I was informed that once replaced they have not seen any reoccuring problems. This leaves me wondering why the gaskets have not been recalled. Thank you brandi
Fitting in bottom of radiator popped out causing transmission fluid to leak out. Replaced radiator and 3 months later had to have transmission fixed. At the time of the radiator malfunction the car had 34,000 miles on it. At the time of the transmission failure, the car had 35,000 miles on it. The warranty period ended January 1, 2003. The failure of the radiator happened in the middle of March, 2003. Daimler Chrysler only paid $250.00 to have radiator replaced. I was told by the general manager of a 5-star Chrysler dealership that the transmission could not have been harmed at the time the radiator failed. It cost me $1251.00 to have my transmission fixed. The second gear band was in pieces in the transmission.
Automatic transmission does not lock into park if indicator is stopped between the park and reverse locations. The car is actually in neutral, but the indicator displays "park". Car will roll in this in this position. This has been tested in five other neons and they all portray this characteristic. This defect caused an accident which injured my wife and daughter, and resulted in $3000 worth of repairs to vehicle. As my wife exited vehicle it began to roll away, with my daughter in her carseat in the rear seat of vehicle. The vehicle collided with a powerline pole, trapping my daughter inside. My wife was pushed to the ground as she tried to stop the vehicle from rolling.
See complaint 10053281 for initial back round info. Radiator replaced due to coolant transmission blow-out. That cost me $500. Then when the 5 star dealer tested the car, the transmission failed. Dealer wanted 600 just to investigate and said that it could cost as much as $2,500 addl to replace. I just read about complaint 10039597 with same problem. It sounds like there is a mfg defect that Chrysler is not owning up to. I called Chrysler about this and they were not going to do anything about this because I did not buy extended coverage. Please get back to me. Thank you.
I bought my 2000 Dodge Neon used in 2002 from reiliable Chevrolet in springfield, mo. The car had aprox 48,000 miles on it. After owning it for a few weeks, I noticed a knocking sound whenever the car was in neutral. When the clutch was depressed the knocking sound went away. I took it to central Dodge (my 5 star dealer) which told me that it was the throw out bearing. After having them fix it, which only cost me $100 because I bought the extended warrenty, the noise started again, just after a couple weeks.
Motor mounts to a doge Neon has been wearing out every two years. They should last the use of the car I>e 30 yrs. Has cause the transmission to collapse. Causing the car to be a danger to the person driving and the people who are walking in the way of a car thatcannot stop.
While driving the vehicle it would not move. After checking the transmission fuel it was leaking onto the ground. Consumer stated the vehicle had plenty of transmission fluid, and that all of the fluids had recently been checked and changed if needed.
Transmission complaints in other Neon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2000 Dodge Neon?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2000 Dodge Neon, 8% of the model year's 337 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Dodge Neon transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2000 Dodge Neon, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Dodge Neon transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 3 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.